We present an innovative alternative to the current volunteer programs by implementing a peer-to-peer model. Our desire is to build relationship and connect with indigenous locals in villages in Africa who can culturally understand where help is truly needed. At the same time, we hope to rely on local villagers to host volunteers, creating lasting income for themselves.
Current volunteer programs are bogged down with excessive administrative staff, communication and planning stresses, and exuberant expenses that produce inefficient aid as advertised. Furthermore, charities and “social engagement” companies have a history of corruption and mismanagement of funds.
Until now, Africa has been largely offline and muted to the rest of the world, which has led to of the inability to understand clearly what “needs to be done” as expressed by the native population. It appears that for western-minded companies the motivation and decisiveness of “what we are coming to do” is determined by which experience is attractive enough to garner future monetary loyalty
We see a variety of challenges ahead, namely, the logistics of working with a network of people who are volunteering their time and finances. We are trying to reach those that need help most, and these are typically the most remotely located with the lowest living conditions. It may not be realistic to assume that fifteen Americans will be willing to live in these conditions for an extended period. In addition, a small village may not be able to sustain the amount of people arriving.
Secondly, we are concerned with how can we ensure that the volunteers will come when the time arrives?
When the natives are relying say, 30 volunteers, and only ten show up, they would risk being put at significant loss. A similar concern is how to be sure that the person in Africa is preparing adequately and with enough time to have the situation ready for the volunteers.